At least four — and as many as eight — children of Baptist leaders were killed when a hostage standoff in a Russian school ended violently Sept. 3, according to Baptist groups from the region.
The two-day crisis in the southern town of Beslan came to a climax when Russian commandos stormed the school following an explosion, according to news sources on the scene. Russian authorities have said that at least 335 people — many of them schoolchildren — were killed in the massacre.
Half-naked children dashed out of the school in every direction, according to televised reports. Some were carried and helped by parents and adults. Many were bleeding. Many received medical treatment and food and water outside.
The hostage incident began Sept. 1 when an armed gang took hundreds of children, parents and teachers hostage on the first day of school in Beslan, located in North Ossetia.
Troubled province
The region is adjacent to the troubled Russian province of Chechnya, where rebels have been fighting the Moscow government and demanding an independent Islamic republic.
Baptist World Alliance leaders familiar with the situation said the tragedy hit the local Baptist church in Beslan hard. Pastor Sergei Totjiev lost three of his five children. Of his two remaining children, one has been blinded, and the other is seriously injured.
Church elder Taimuras Totjiev — the pastor’s brother — had five children taken hostage. Only one has been found alive, and the others are presumed dead. In addition, another child from the church died.
Reports indicated that nearly 2,000 people gathered in front of the homes of the Totjiev brothers who live next to each other.
Some of their neighbors told them, “You lost your children, but we feel like they were our children too. They were shining lights on our street.”
Others in the crowd cursed and vowed to take revenge, but Sergei Totjiev said he would not seek revenge on the killers of his two children. “Yes, we have an irreplaceable loss,” he said. “But we cannot take revenge. As Christians the Bible teaches us that we must forgive. Vengeance is in God’s hands.”
BWA’s relief arm, BWAid, is working with local partner Mission Vera to provide for the physical and psychological needs of the children and their families. The group’s directors, Yevgeniy and Nadia Zhigulin, have already attended funerals for many of the victims.
“During the days of deep grief our employees leave for Beslan for funerals of victims, providing material assistance where needed,” the Zhigulins reported.
BWAid will provide $2,500 to Mission Vera for relief work in Beslan.
The International Mission Board (IMB) is working with two Russian Baptist ministers who are in Beslan to provide counseling. The IMB released $5,000 in relief funds for them to use as needs arise in their counseling situations.
To donate to the IMB relief fund call 1-800-999-3113. To donate to BWAid call 703-790-8980.
(ABP, BWA, IMB)
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